MANU/DE/1921/2020

True Court CopyTM

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI

Crl. A. 1231/2018

Decided On: 23.10.2020

Appellants: Ishwer Soni Vs. Respondent: The State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)

Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
Manoj Kumar Ohri

DECISION

Manoj Kumar Ohri, J.

1. The present appeal is preferred under Section 374 Cr.P.C. on behalf of the appellant Ishwer Soni challenging the judgment dated 30.07.2018 and order on sentence dated 31.07.2018 passed by the ASJ-01, East District, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi, in SC No. 74/2016 arising out of FIR No. 177/2016 registered under Section 376 IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act at Police Station Geeta Colony, Delhi whereby the appellant was convicted for the offence punishable under Section 366A IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. Further, vide order on sentence dated 31.07.2018, the appellant was directed to undergo RI for a period of 10 years for the offence punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO Act along with payment of fine of Rs. 5,000/- in default whereof, to undergo SI for 2 months. He was further directed to undergo RI for a period of 5 years for the offence punishable under Section 366A IPC alongwith payment of fine of Rs. 5,000/- in default whereof, to undergo SI for 2 months. Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

2. The brief facts, as noted by the Trial Court, are as under:-

"Brief facts as per the case of the prosecution are that on 30.04.2016, DD No. 3A was marked to IO WSI Deepa (PW-6). Mother of the victim (PW-2) alongwith the victim (PW-1) came to PS Geeta Colony. IO made enquiries from the mother of the victim and recorded her statement Ex. PW2/A wherein she alleged that on 29.04.2016 at about 7.00 pm, the victim had gone to her grandmother's (nani) house and while she was coming downstairs for returning to her home, one tenant namely Ishwar met her and took the victim to his room and sexually assaulted the victim by inserting his hand into her vagina and started licking and he did it many times and also pressed her breast due to which victim was sweating and on returning home, she narrated the entire incident to her mother (PW-2). Thereafter, as per the instructions of IO, WASI Amrik Kaur (PW-4) took the victim alongwith her mother to SDN hospital where medical examination of victim was conducted. MLC of the victim child was obtained. Thereafter, IO prepared rukka and present FIR was registered under Section 376 IPC & Section 6 of POCSO Act. Accused was arrested at the instance of victim. Thereafter, IO prepared site plan at the instance of victim and also got recorded the statement of victim u/s. 164 Cr.P.C. verified the date of birth of victim etc."

3. After completion of investigation, charge-sheet was filed and vide order dated 07.02.2017, the trial court framed charges under Section 366A IPC & Section 6 of the POCSO Act against the appellant. The appellant pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

CONTENTIONS

4. Learned counsel for the appellant doubted the credibility of the child victim by referring to her statement where she had stated that the appellant had inserted his hand inside her vagina, however, at the time of the MLC, no injury or swelling was noticed. Learned counsel for the appellant contended that there is an apparent contradiction in the ........